Transport vehicle designed to be pulled by an overhead cable and installation comprising a vehicle of said type

ABSTRACT

Transport vehicle designed to be pulled by an overhead cable, including an attachment device configured to attach the vehicle to the overhead cable, a support structure configured to support at least one chair, and a hanger arm connecting the support structure to the attachment device, said at least one chair being mounted rotationally on the support structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to transport by overhead cable, and moreparticularly to installations of chairlift type and vehicles of theseinstallations.

STATE OF THE ART

A large number of chairlifts are currently used to transport passengersto elevated locations and most of them are fairly old. A chairlift is atransport installation equipped with chairs suspended on an overheadcable, which acts as both carrying and hauling cable.

Swiss Patent application CH704725 can be cited which discloses achairlift each chair of which comprises seats, a grip clamping thehauling cable of the chairlift, a hanger arm extending along avertically-oriented longitudinal axis and connected to the grip, and ahorizontal support situated above the seats and coupled to the hangerarm by means of a pivot-link so that the horizontal support can rotatearound the longitudinal axis of the hanger arm. This chairlift enablesthe seat of the chairs to be made to rotate in the direction of one sideof the chairlift to provide an unobstructed view of the landscapesituated on this side.

But this type of chairlift does not procure thrilling sensations as thepassengers are kept in a comfortable position. These chairlifts arefurther generally used in winter and are not used, or used very little,in summer.

A requirement therefore exists to use the chairlifts in summer when thepassengers can no longer go skiing, and more particularly to proposechairlifts which provide thrilling sensations and which can be used bothin summer and in winter.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention consists in remedying these shortcomings,and more particularly in providing means for creating thrillingsensations for the passengers transported by overhead hauling cable intotal safety.

According to one feature of the invention, a transport vehicle designedto be pulled by an overhead cable is proposed, comprising an attachmentdevice configured to attach the vehicle to the overhead cable, a supportstructure configured to support at least one chair, and a hanger armconnecting the support structure to the attachment device.

In this vehicle, the chair is mounted rotationally on the supportstructure.

The vehicle thus procures thrilling sensations in complete safety as thesupport structure can remain fixed to the hanger arm.

The hanger arm can extend along a longitudinal axis and said at leastone chair is mounted rotationally around an axis of rotationperpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

The passengers are thus inclined in the direction of movement of thechair which procures original sensations that are more thrilling thanthose procured by traditional chairlifts. Such a vehicle further makesit possible to take the passengers closer to the ground in order toincrease the sensation of speed, which enhances the sensations ofthrills.

The chair can comprise a harness mounted swiveling on the chair betweena raised position in which access to the chair is allowed and a loweredposition to provide protection for a passenger seated on the chair.

The vehicle can comprise a tilt system configured to animate in rotationsaid at least one chair with respect to a reference position of thechair.

The chair can be configured to rotate around the axis of rotation sothat the field of view of the passenger seated in the chair is directedtowards the ground.

The vehicle can comprise several chairs situated side by side accordingto an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

According to another feature of the invention, an overhead cabletransport installation is proposed, comprising at least one vehicle asdefined in the foregoing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from thefollowing description of particular embodiments of the invention givenfor non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a front view of an embodiment of acable transport installation according to the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a side view of a vehicle according tothe invention where the chair occupies a reference position; and

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 2where the chair has rotated with respect to its reference position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A transport installation 1 by overhead cable 2, comprising at least onevehicle 3, has been represented in FIG. 1. The installation 1 ispreferably a chairlift comprising an overhead cable 2 which acts as bothcarrying and hauling cable on which the vehicles 3 are attached in orderto be pulled. Each vehicle 3 comprises an attachment device 4, a hangerarm 5 and a support structure 6. The attachment device 4 is configuredto attach the vehicle 3 to the overhead hauling cable 2. The attachmentdevice 4 can be a fixed grip for attachment of the vehicle 3 to thecable 2 in permanent manner, or a detachable grip to attach the vehicle3 to the cable 2 in removable manner. The hanger arm 5 is connected tothe attachment device 4, and extends along a longitudinal axis L. Thelongitudinal axis L is vertically oriented when the vehicle 3 is at astandstill. The support structure 6 is connected to the hanger arm 5 viaa first end of the hanger arm 5. The hanger arm 5 is further connectedto the attachment device 4 via a second end of the hanger arm 5 oppositethe first end. In particular, the attachment device 4 attaches thevehicle 3 to the overhead cable 2 at an attachment point. In other wordsthe longitudinal axis L passes through the first end of the hanger arm 5and the overhead cable 2, i.e. the attachment point of the attachmentdevice 4. The support structure 6 can be formed from an assembly ofcylindrical parts, which can be bars, tubes, full rods, or a combinationof the three. What is meant by cylinder is a solid limited by acylindrical surface generated by a set of parallel lines, referred to asgeneratrix, pressing on a closed flat curve, referred to as directrix,and two planes cutting the generatrix. In general manner, the supportstructure 6 forms a frame connected to the hanger arm 5.

The vehicle 3 further comprises at least one chair 7 to 9 mounted on thesupport structure 6 and suspended on the cable 2 when the vehicle 3 isattached to the cable 2. For example, the vehicle 3 can comprise severalchairs 7 to 9 situated side by side according to a main axis Rperpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The main axis R can also beperpendicular to an axis of attachment X of the attachment device 4. Theaxis of attachment X is an axis along which the hauling cable 2 extendswhen the attachment device 4 is attached to the hauling cable 2. Theaxis of attachment X extends in the direction in which the vehicle 3travels when the latter is pulled by the hauling cable 2. Moreparticularly, the chairs 7 to 9 are of bucket seat type, i.e. individualchairs with a backrest engaging the passenger's hips so that thepassengers are firmly ensconced in the chair 7 to 9.

In particular, the vehicle 3 comprises at least one chair 7 to 9 mountedrotationally on the support structure 6 around an axis of rotation Rperpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. The axis of rotation Rcorresponds to the main axis R described above. Preferentially, all thechairs 7 to 9 are mounted rotationally around the axis of rotation R. Asa variant, it can be envisaged for the chairs 7 to 9 to have differentaxes of rotation from one another. For example, all the axes of rotationof the chairs 7 to 9 are parallel to one another and are perpendicularto the longitudinal axis L. When the chairs 7 to 9 have the same axis ofrotation R, the axis of rotation R can be located in the middle of theframe formed by the support structure 6. For example, the axis ofrotation R passes through the set of backrests of the chairs. It canalso be situated in the part of the frame located in proximity to thehanger arm 5.

Preferentially, each chair 7 to 9 comprises a harness 10 mountedswiveling on the chair 7 to 9 between a raised position in which accessto the chair 7 to 9 is allowed, and a lowered position to provideprotection of a passenger seated on the chair 7 to 9. Each chair 7 to 9can further be equipped with a safety bar 11 mounted pivoting between araised position and a lowered position so as to immobilise thepassenger's legs. In particular, the harness 10 is shaped to protect thepassenger's torso by securing the latter between the backrest and theharness 10 when the harness 10 is in the lowered position. It is alsopossible to design a specific protection harness that can secure boththe passenger's torso and legs, and in this case the safety bar 11 is nolonger necessary.

Preferably, the vehicle 3 comprises a tilt system 12 configured toanimate in rotation the chairs 7 to 9 with respect to respectivereference positions of the chairs 7 to 9. A reference position can be aposition in which the backrest of the chair is vertical and the seat ofthe chair is horizontal, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tilt system 12can further comprise a transmission part 13, a rotation mechanism 14,and a transmission cable 15 connecting the rotation mechanism 14 to thetransmission part 13. The rotation mechanism 14 can comprise a set ofgears configured to move the chairs 7 to 9 in rotation, and commanded byhydraulic or pneumatic jacks, or commanded by one or more electricmotors. The transmission cable 15 is then an electric cable connected tothe jacks or to the electric motors and the transmission part 13 is acontrol button 13. As a variant, the rotation mechanism 14 comprises awireless apparatus to control the jacks or the electric motors, thewireless apparatus being commanded by the control button 13 and theelectric cable 15 is then no longer necessary. Preferentially, the setof gears of the rotation mechanism 14 is controlled by a transmissioncable 15 of mechanical type. The mechanical-type cable 15 can beflexible. According to another variant, the mechanical-type cable 15 canbe replaced by several rods articulated on one another. The transmissionpart 13 can be a lever arm. In particular, the lever arm 13 is mountedmobile on the support structure 6, between a first position P in whichthe lever arm 13 raises the chairs 7 to 9 to their reference position,and a second position Q in which the lever arm 13 inclines the chairs 7to 9. What is meant here by raises is the fact that the chairs 7 to 9are directed upwards, in particular in the direction of the attachmentdevice 4, i.e. the apexes of the backrests are directed towards theattachment device 4. What is meant by inclines on the other hand is thefact that the chairs 7 to 9 are directed towards the ground, in otherwords the apexes of the backrests are directed away from the attachmentdevice 4, i.e. directed towards the ground. Preferably, the chairs 7 to9 are configured to rotate around their axes of rotation so that thefield of vision V of the passengers seated in the chairs is directedtowards the ground. The orientation of the field of vision V of thepassengers has been represented by the reference O. In other words, thechairs are inclined in the direction of the axis of attachment X, i.e.in the direction in which the vehicle 3 is moving. When the chairs 7 to9 are inclined, the passengers are in an extremely marked position withregard to the ground, which creates thrilling sensations. The incline ofthe chairs 7 to 9 further modifies the traditional references of thepassengers where the passenger's torso is kept in a vertical position,which enhances the thrilling sensations.

In FIG. 2, the chairs 7 to 9 have been represented at a standstill in astation and occupying their reference position. In their referenceposition, the lever arm 13 occupies its first position P. The harnesses10 and safety bars are raised and the passengers can board the chairs 7to 9. Then the harnesses 10 and safety bars 11 are lowered, asillustrated in FIG. 2. Once the passengers are secured in the chairs 7to 9, the user inclines the chairs 7 to 9 in the direction of the groundby moving the lever arm 13 to its second position Q, as illustrated inFIG. 3. The vehicle 3 is then ready to be hauled by the cable 2. Moreparticularly, the chairs 7 to 9 keep their inclined positions throughoutthe run until they reach the unloading end station. The passengers arethus suspended in mid-air with their field of vision V directed towardsthe ground. Such a vehicle procures hitherto original sensations thatare much more thrilling than those that can be experienced with atraditional chairlift.

As a variant, the lever arm 13 can comprise a fixed or mobile sheave 16to automatically trigger the chairs 7 to 9 tilting. For example, theloading and unloading stations can comprise triggering means, such asrails or cams, which operate in conjunction with the sheave 16 when thevehicle 3 is moved in the station and passes in front of the trigger. Itis thus possible to propose an installation 1 in which the passengersboard the chairs 7 to 9, while the vehicle 3 is still moving in thestation. Furthermore, when the trigger of the loading station comes intocontact with the sheave 16, the chairs 7 to 9 are inclined in theloading station and before the vehicle 3 leaves the loading station. Inopposite manner, the unloading station comprises a reverse trigger whichraises the sheave 16 and moves the lever arm 13 to its first position toreturn the chairs 7 to 9 to the reference position in the unloadingstation. When the vehicle 3 has reached the unloading station, the tiltsystem 12 enables raising the chairs 7 to 9 to return them to theirreference positions to facilitate the passengers to alight.

The installation and vehicle which have just been described enable newsensations to be created that are much more thrilling than thoseprocured by traditional chairlifts.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. Transport vehicle designed to be pulled by anoverhead cable, comprising: an attachment device configured to attachthe vehicle to the overhead cable, a support structure configured tosupport at least one chair, and a hanger arm connecting the supportstructure to the attachment device, the hanger arm extending along alongitudinal axis and said at least one chair being mounted rotationallyon the support structure around an axis of rotation perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis, wherein said at least one chair is configured torotate around the axis of rotation so that the field of vision of thepassenger seated in said at least one chair is directed towards theground.
 7. Vehicle according to claim 6, wherein said at least one chaircomprises a harness mounted swiveling on said at least one chair betweena raised position in which access to said at least one chair is allowedand a lowered position to provide protection for a passenger seated onsaid at least one chair.
 8. Vehicle according to claim 6, comprising atilt system configured to animate in rotation said at least one chairwith respect to a reference position of said at least one chair. 9.Vehicle according to claim 6, comprising several chairs situated side byside according to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 10.Overhead cable transport installation, comprising at least one vehicleaccording to claim 6.